Type-writing machine.



R. W. UHLIG.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30 1909.

965,847; Patented July 26, 1910.

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INVENTOR:

\rJiTN ESSESI UNITED STATES PATENT oFFToE.

RICHARD UHLIG, 0F RUTHERFORD, JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 UNDERWOOD TYPE-WRITER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July 26, 1910.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD W. UHLIG, a citizen of the United States, residing in Rutherford, in the county'of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Type- Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the devices employed in typewriting machines for releasing the platen from the control of the usual notched line-space wheel, so that the platen may be rotated freely while the line-space wheel is held stationary by its spring check.

The object of the invention is to produce an inexpensive device of this character, which shall be simple, compact, easily operated, effective and readily applied to existing machines.

In the preferred form of the invention, a disk or head is fixed to the end of the platen axle and carries a pair of pivoted dogs,

- each of which has jaws to bite a flange or ring which projects from the side of the line-space wheel. These dogs are pivoted on said. head at points substantially coincident with or near the jaws. Said ring and said jaws are located close to the periphery of the line-space wheel, and the dogs extend therefrom inwardly'or toward the platen axle and are operated by their inner ends, a powerful purchase being thus secured to cause the jaws to bite the flange. A releasing button is connected to a stem which is movable longitudinally of the platen axle and has a lug to engage said dogs to operate them.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the platen and platen frame of an Underwood front strike writing machine with the present improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section taken on line aa, Fig. 3, showing the improved clutching mechanism in locked or connected position. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 12-25, Fig. 2, also showing the clutching mechanism in locked or connected position. Fig. 4 is a similar .view showing the clutching mechanism in re leased position. Fig. 5 is a view of the several parts of the clutching mechanism in axle and the disk or head fixed thereto.

The usual cylindrical platen 1 is secured to an axle 2 by screws and is j-ournaled in a platen frame, whose ends are seen at 3. A toothed line-space wheel 4:, mounted loosely outside of the platen frame, is usually engaged by a check or detent 5'. Upon the outer side of theline-space wheel'is formed a ring or flange 6, which is intended to be bitten by the dogs to lock the line-space wheel to the platen. A dog-carrying disk or head 7 is provided upon one side with a hub 9, whereby it is brazed or otherwise fixed upon the end of the platen axle 2.

The clutching dogs are designated as 11, and are pivoted at 12 in bosses 13 provided upon the head 7. A C-shaped spring 10 engages slots 14 formed in the lower or inner ends of the dogs (Fig. 6), and tends to draw said dogs together, and thereby release the platen. Near its upper or outer end, each dog is transversely slotted at 15 to form opposing jaws (designated as 20 and 21, at Fig. 3), which bite the ring 6. It will be seen that the pivot pin 12 is in line with the slot 15, or in other words, that the jaws of each dog are close to the axis of rotation, so that a strong purchase is secured for operating the dogs by their lower or inner ends, at Fig. 3.

The dogs are operated by means of a button 16, which is secured upon the end of a stem 17 that extends longitudinally through a long hub 7 provided on the head 7. The stem 17 has a slidin fit in a hub 25 which is provided upon a nger wheel 26 and inserted in the hub 7, and fixed to the latter by a set screw 28 (Fig. 1) or otherwise.

Upon the inner end of the stem 17 is secured a lug 18 which plays in a slot 8 in the hub 8, and is intended to operate as a wedge to act upon beveled or chamfered faces19 formed on the inner ends of the dogs, to force them apart or swing them from the position at Fig. 4 to the position at'Fig. 3, and thereby cause their jaws to bite the ring 6. The parts are normally held in these positions by a spring check 23 engaging the lug or wedge 18.

It will be observed that the flange or ring pactly assembled and easily controlled. It

is found that an arm or lever 11 so short as to extendonly a part of the distance from the ring 6 toward the platen axle 9, may be sufiiciently powerful to give the required him of the dog upon the ring; it will also be seen that the dogs are loosely pivoted at 12 in a manner to swing in a plane transverse to the platen. axis, from the position at Fig. 3 to that at Fig. l.

To release the platen, it is only necessary to'pull the button 16 toward the left or in a direction lon itudinal of the platen axle. The lug'l8 wiIl pass by the check 23 and withdraw from the dogs, permitting the spring 10 to swing the latter to the released position at Fig. 4. Pressureof the button 16 to the right will relock the platen to the line-space wheel.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen elementand a loose linespace wheel element, of an annular flange projecting laterally from one of said elements near its periphery, a dog having a jaw fitting loosely over said flange, said dog pivoted in proximity to said jaw to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising a level-extending from said flange toward the axis of rotation of the platen, and a finger iece having means engaging the inner .end 0? said lever to cause it to swing and bite said flange.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen element and a loose linespace wheel element, of an annular flange projecting laterally from onerof said elements near its periphery, a dog having a aw fitting loosely over said flange, said dog pivoted in proximity to said jaw to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising a lever extending from said flange toward the axis of rotation of the platen, and a finger piece having means engaging the inner end of said lever to cause it to swing and bite said flange; said lever beingtion withp. platen e ement and a loose'line-' space wheel element, of an annular flange projecting laterally from one of said elements near its periphery, a dog having a jaw fitting loosely over said flange, said dog pivoted in proximity to said jaw and extending from said flange toward the axis of rotation of the platen, and a finger piece having means engaging the inner end of said dog to cause it to swing and bite said flange; said dog being beveled at its inner end and said-finger piece having a stem movable longitudinally of the platen axis and having'a lug to engage said bevel and swing the dog;-

piece having means engaging the inner ends of said levers to cause the dogs to swing simultaneously to bite said flange.

. 5. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen element and a loose linespace wheel element, of an annular flange projecting laterally from one of said elements, a pair of dogs having jaws fitting loosely over said flange and pivoted in proximity to said jaws to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising levers extending from said flange toward the axis of rotation of the platen, a finger piece having means'engaging the inner ends of the lever portions of said dogs to cause them to swing simultaneously to bite said flange,

and means to hold the dogs in effective positions.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen element and a loose linespace wheel element, of an annular flange projecting laterally from one of said ele ments, a pair of dogs having jaws fitting loosely over said flange'and pivoted in proximity to said jaws to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising levers extending from said flange toward the axis of rotation of the platen, a finger piece having means engaging the inner ends of the lever portions of said dogs to cause them to swing simultaneously to bite said flange, and

means to hold the dogs in effective positions;

said dogs being beve ed at their inner ends, and said finger-piece having a stem movable longitudinally of the platen axis and having a lug to engage said bevels and swing the dogs apart.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen element and a loose some? line-space wheel element, of an annular flange projecting laterally from one of said elements, a pair of dogs having jaws fitting loosely over said flange and pivoted in proximity to said jaws to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising levers extending from said flange toward the axis of rotation of the platen, a finger piece having means engaging the inner ends of the lever portions of said dogs to cause them to swing'simultaneously to bite said flange, and means to hold the dogs ineffective positions; said dogs being beveled at their inner ends, and said fingerpiece having a stem movable longitudinally of the platen axis and having a lug to engage said bevels and swing the dogs apart; and the latter being provided with returning means.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen axle and a line-space wheel, of a flange projecting laterally from the line-space wheel, a head fixed on said axle, a dog on said head and having jaws to bite said flange and pivoted in proximity to said jaws and extending toward the platen axle to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising a lever, a finger piece connected to means to operate said lever.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a'platen axle and a line-space wheel, of a flange projecting laterally from the line-space wheel, a head fixed on said axle, a dog on said head and having jaws to bite said flange. and pivoted in proximity to said jaws and extending toward the platen axle to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising a lever,- a finger piece mounted on a stem which is movable longitudinally axially of said head, and having a lug to engage said lever to operate the same.

10. In a typewriting ,machine, the combination with a platen, a platen axle and a line-space wheel, of a flange projecting laterally from the line-space wheel, a head fixed on said axle, a dog on said head and having jaws to bite said flange and pivoted in proximity to said jaws and extending toward the platen axle, and a finger piece mounted on a stem which is movable longitudinally axially of said head, and having a lug to engage said dog to operate the same; said head having on one side a part which is fixed to the platen axle, and having on the opposite side a hub in which is fixedlyi'nserted the hub of a platen-rotating finger wheel; said stem passing longitudinally through said finger-wheel hub.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen, a platen axle and a line-space wheel, of a flange projecting laterally from the line-space wheel, a head fixed on said axle, a dog on said head and having jaws to bite said flange and pivoted in proximity to said jaws and extending toward the platen axle, and 'a finger piece mounted on a stem which is movable longitudinally axially of said head, and having a lug to engage said dog to operate the same; said head having on one side a part which is fixed to the platen axle, and having on the opposite side a hub to which is fixed a platen-rotating finger wheel; said stem passing longitudinally through said finger wheel and said hub.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen and an axle therefor, of a line-space wheel having a flange or ring and loosely mounted, a head fixed to the platen axle; a pair of dogs or levers mounted on said head to swing in a plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising levers provided with jaws to bite said ring, and means to'engage the extremities of the levers to operate them; each of said nation with a platen and an axle therefor, I

of a line-space wheel having a flange or ring and loosely mounted, a head fixed to the platen axle; a pair of dogs or levers mounted on said head to swing in a'plane transverse to the platen axis and comprising levers provided with jaws to bite said ring, a stem, a wedge mounted upon the stem, and a button mounted at the end of the stem and movable longitudinally of the axle to force the wedge between-the ends of the levers to force them apart and cause their jaws to bite.

14-. In a typewriting machine, the combination witha platen and an axle therefor, of a line-space wheel having a friction flange or ring and loosel mounted on the platen axle, a plate provi ed with a circumferential flange and a shouldered project-ion fixed to the platen axle, a pair of dogs or levers mounted in suitable bearings provided in said plate, said dogs or levers being provided with jaws or slots adapted to engage the friction flange or ring of the line-space wheel, side slots and chamfered extremities,

a spring positioned upon said plate beneath the shouldered projection with its ends entering the side slots and bearing with spring tension against the dogs or levers to hold them in unlocked position; means for expanding the chamfered extremities of the dogs or levers to cause the slots or jaws thereof to engage the flange or ring of the line-space wheel to connect or bind the latter to the platen, said means comprising a rod slidable along the platen axle, 'a wedge mounted upon the rod, an operating button mounted u on the other end of the rod, said button and rod movable along the platen axle to operate said wedge to engage the having its free end bearing upon the wedge .chamfered ends of the dogs or levers and'into hold the line-space wheel in platen locked sert the same therebetween to force apart position.

and oscillate the dogs or levers "to cause their RICHARD W. UHLIG. jaws 01' slots to frictionally engage the Witnesses:

flange or ring of the line-space Wheel, and :1 JOHN D, SEIEERT,

spring fixed to the sleeve of the plate and C. KEELEY. 

